Personal Vent/Celebration

[HannaBelle]

I cannot wait until this school year is over. My DD13 (7th grade) is in band and I HATE IT!!! There, I said…I hate band, I hate band, I hate band….lol

I cannot stand going to the concerts or listening to her practice in the house. I hate the fact that her band instructor is a pompous *** and makes really bad jokes.

She will not be taking band next year. I am so excited!!! She gets to choose her electives and was trying to decide between athletics and band for 8th grade and athletics won out!!!

I am even MORE excited that this means NO MARCHING BAND in HS!!! Wohooo…

I know that lots of people love band and it has great benefits, I am glad you enjoy it and to each his own! I just had to get this out there...

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I am a band parent, but I must admit that listening to 4th and 5th grade band concerts is a kind of torture.

 

[pixiewings71]

I'm a band parent (DD14 is now in 9th grade, she's been in band since 6th) and I too hate it..but she loves it so that makes it worthwhile for me! I will continue to support her band endeavors as long as she's in band (presumably until she graduates) but I do not have to like it. The band is so disorganized, they don't keep in touch with people, it's just ridiculous......it needs a serious overhaul IMO!

 

[Owlpost23]

Now there's an honest parent! Our daughter is in theatre,and I'm never very enthusiastic about performances.When she was in band (elementary school)it was agony.I'm glad she doesn't play soccer-I'd hate even more to sit outside in those foldable chairs in the muck to watch that snoozefest.

 

[bombygriz]

I hate marching as much as the next guy...but honestly, it's the way making music should make you feel. I'm in HS so it's a little more sensible for me to realise that.

I agree with young bands though, eeek!

 

[PatsMom]

I was always so glad my DD pursued volleyball and track instead of band! I do like a good volleyball game but I must confess that track meets are among the most boring events around! You spend all day to watch your child compete in a few events. But at least you can bring a lawn chair and a book!

One of my nieces did band in middle school and I went to a couple of her concerts. All band parents have my sincere admiration!

 

[mhsjax]

OP, I agree. I pretty much told my kids, No band. Luckily for me they didn't want anything to do with it.

Seriously, If I had a kids that was really interested, I would let them do it. Would I like it? No way, but I would let them, and hope that they would end up hating it.

I sound terrible don't I? Don't answer that. lol

 

[HannaBelle]

I am glad I am not the only one!

I am very supportive of what she wants to do, totally her choice. We are "all in" for the kids activates and are on the front row with the camera for events/performances.

I will certainly never tell her that I hate it! lol

 

[KimR]

None of my kids are in band but my oldest took piano for years and I loved it. I loved the recitals, the practices, just everything about it. She's away at college now and I really miss listening to her play.

I am thankful, though, that none of my girls are into team sports. I would have hated sitting out in the cold watching the practices and games. They were/are gymnasts, and I don't mind that at all. I enjoy watching the routines and the meets are indoors. Though, if they truly wanted to play soccer or whatever, I would let them. I just wouldn't be happy about it.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I mentioned earlier I don't appreciate elementary school band concerts. But I did want to make sure I mentioned I do really like that my kids are in band, and have no problem with the middle or high school concerts.

Although marching band basically takes up the family's entire free time in the month of October, we really do enjoy seeing the kids on the field. Sitting on the cold stands every Friday watching high school football is quite enjoyable, actually.

 

[Pig Pen]

off topic but I was in band in HS and HATED it at the time. I wanted to quit so much but my parents wouldn't let me because they had invested so much money into the instrument, lessons, uniforms, etc. However, they NEVER went to any of my concerts, games, parades, etc.

Looking back, my band experience is a highlight of my high school career. Some old classmates recently posted some long lost pics of the band on facebook. We were playing half-time at a Miami Dolphins football game and I was so excited to see them!

I still can't get over the fact that my parents never attended ANYTHING I did. I made up for it with my kids by practically living at school with them. Sorry kids! I didn't enjoy the baseball games though (April in Vermont can still be cold and snowy).

 

[momof1princess]

OP, my DH feels the EXACT same way you do. he worked very long hours this past fall and missed all but 3 football games, the band concert and only made it to 1 band competition. but, considering how he feels about band, i don't put it past him to have volunteered to work, lol. that's okay, i don't much care for it either, but DD13 loves it and we encourage anything she does. so, mom will continue to go to band concerts, football games and competitions, while dad hides out at work, lol.

 

[jen0610]

I was always so glad my DD pursued volleyball and track instead of band! I do like a good volleyball game but I must confess that track meets are among the most boring events around! You spend all day to watch your child compete in a few events. But at least you can bring a lawn chair and a book!

One of my nieces did band in middle school and I went to a couple of her concerts. All band parents have my sincere admiration!

A great band teacher vs an good band teacher vs an ok band teacher can make a world of difference.

We thank the good lord, DS got the great band teacher when he started back in 6th grade. And continues with a great band teacher in high school.

DS did track one year and that was more than enough for us. No lawn chairs allowed here, it is all sitting on cold, hard metal bleachers for 2-3 hours to watch him on the track for 5 - 10 minutes, depending on what he was running.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am happy you are happy.

My oldest did band and my youngest who will be going into HS next yr is going to do "speaking stuff" like debate and competitive speaking, etc.

I think I will take the band instead.

 

[IdesOmarch]

Its a proven fact that playing music and learning an instrument effects a person's overall intelligence, and in fact makes them smarter. It has something to do with forcing the right hemisphere to work together with the left, or vice versa, or something like that, I forget the specifics. It is very good for a child to learn a musical instrument. Particularly the piano does that because you have to look at up to 10 different notes simultaneously and the left hand and right hand have to work together. This develops the brain.

 

[Pigeon]

I'm sorry you hated band.

Personally, I'm thrilled my kids are into music in a big way and not at all into team sports.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I have four kids in band.

I actually like that they are into the same thing...makes it easier on me.

 

[Magpie]

I love listening to my son practice his sax. He's SO good! And the pieces he plays are all mellow and jazzy.

But it WAS pretty painful when he was just starting out in grade 7. And I never enjoyed listening to my daughter practice her flute... I think the difference was that SHE never enjoyed practicing the flute either, so she never improved past "terrible".

I was SO glad when my daughter didn't have to take Music any more. But I think I'll cry if my son ever quits band!

 

[Rexfan]

I have adored every minute of DD's band career. I am beyond thrilled that she's marching in college next year. It takes away my depression of this being the last year. :lol

OP, I'm glad you're happy. :lol

 

[mhsjax]

Its a proven fact that playing music and learning an instrument effects a person's overall intelligence, and in fact makes them smarter. It has something to do with forcing the right hemisphere to work together with the left, or vice versa, or something like that, I forget the specifics. It is very good for a child to learn a musical instrument. Particularly the piano does that because you have to look at up to 10 different notes simultaneously and the left hand and right hand have to work together. This develops the brain.

Wow, thanks. Sometimes I feel really stupid. But I was great at piano. 10 years of it. I can honestly say that this was about the only thing I was really good at. Maybe I am smart.

I have heard that there is a correlation between music and math, I think that I can without a doubt disprove that theory. lol Then again, I was always in advanced math, I just hated it.